For the month of January, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) invested a total of $603,255.29 in new and ongoing grants.

Over $389,000 in new grants for projects in eight protected areas:

Community Baboon Sanctuary
$60,000.00 - Community Baboon Sanctuary Women’s Conservation Group

Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
$29,537.50 - Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development

Chiquibul National Park, Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol Archaeological Site
$100,000.00 - Friends for Conservation and Development

Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
$99,992.56 - Southern Environmental Association

Bladen Nature Reserve
$100,000.00 - Ya’axché Conservation Trust
 
PACT also disbursed over $120,000 for ongoing grants; of this $70,000 was facilitated via partnerships with the Meso-American Reef Fund (MAR Fund) and the PACT Foundation.

The New Grants include a Small Grant of $60,000 to the Community Baboon Sanctuary Women’s Conservation Group (CBSWCG) for the preparation of a management plan for the Community Baboon Sanctuary. The Community Baboon Sanctuary is a voluntary grassroots conservation initiative established in the Belize River Valley, with the goal of sustaining the habitat of the Black Howler Monkey while promoting economic development in the participating communities.

The Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) is also the recipient of a Small Grant. SACD is working in collaboration with the Forest Department to manage the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Currently, there is limited understanding of the ways in which climate change will affect the aquatic systems of CBWS and since Northeast Belize has a high risk climate change status it is important for management to be aware of such information for improved long term management effectiveness. This investment will establish a baseline for monitoring the water quality in Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Chiquibul Forest (Chiquibul National Park, Chiquibul Forest Reserve and Caracol Archaeological Reserve) continues to be under a diverse set of threats. The Forest Department and the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) have been working together to manage this area and since 2005, PACT has been investing in these management efforts. FCD has established a biodiversity research program that would provide data for adaptive management of this area. Understanding the importance of research, the PACT is investing $100,000 to support data collection efforts, and to strengthen capacity for research and park surveillance.

The Grant to Southern Environmental Association (SEA) will support management of two important marine protected areas: Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR) and Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR). This investment from PACT will facilitate scientific monitoring for commercial species, landings and spawning aggregation at GSSCMR and SCMR. This is an important process for the region to keep abreast of the fish stocks.
 
PACT awarded a Medium-Sized Grant to Ya’axché Conservation Trust for conservation efforts in Bladen Nature Reserve, one of only two nature reserves in the country that employs the strictest form of conservation management. This investment from PACT will focus on strengthening the biodiversity monitoring and data collection program established in 2008 by Ya’axché.  

Support was also provided to the Belize Forest Department to facilitate assessment of the Rosewood stock. The research involves data collection and analysis (stock taking), zone identification, and GIS modelling.

Visit our Facebook page for photos of these protected areas: www.facebook.com/pactbelize